 "Photo: Scott Mitchell, Photo Editor | Valley Star")
The smoke from the barbeques at homecoming Saturday night cast an eerie haze above Monarch field as Valley lost a 41-40-barn burner to the East Los Angeles Huskies.
The teams combined for 1,141 yards of total offense, but the game was won on a late defensive rally when he Huskies were able to stop the Monarchs on their final possession of the game.
"Our guys hung in there and played hard," said Huskies head Coach Lynn Cain after the game. "The number one thing I talk about is don't quit and we didn't and were able to get a win tonight."
The Monarchs scored on two of their first three possessions, stopping the Huskies twice to take a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter with two touchdown passes by quarterback Brett Visigliato to tight end Chase Leake and wide receiver Josh Stangby.
The Huskies answered with a 6 play, 77-yard touchdown and a four-play 63-yard drive behind quarterback Pedro Velasquezs to tie the game at 14.
The Monarchs next drive was halted after five plays leading to a punt in which kicker Wilmer Segura was injured on a late hit after the kick.
After the punt the Monarchs' defense stopped the Huskies and followed with a 67-yard drive of their own which was capped by Visiglia's third touchdown pass of the game. With Segura on the sideline being treated for his injury the Monarchs failed to convert a 2-point conversion.
"It all comes down to the details of the game," said Monarch Head Coach Jim Fenwick. "The penalty where we lost our kicker was negated by our own penalty and that cost us."
The Huskies received the second half kickoff and went 70 yards to score. Visiglia answered with his fourth touchdown pass of the night, but Velasquez, who threw for 456 yards, followed with a 63-yard bomb to Anthony Denham to take the lead once more 28-27.
Segura, who stayed on the field during halftime to try and work through the pain of his injury, missed a field goal attempt on the Monarch's next drive. Valley safety Sean Williams intercepted a Velasquez pass two plays later and Visiglia, who threw for 470 yards, followed suit with another touchdown pass to Leake.
East L.A. running back Isam Pegues, who totaled 146 yards on 23 carries ran for touchdowns on the Huskies' next two drives, in between which Visiglia threw his second touchdown pass to Travion Odom but the Monarchs failed on another two-point conversion attempt.
After Pegues' second touchdown the Monarchs had a chance to score again when they got the ball with 3:50 to go but the Huskies stood up and made their defensive stand.
"We can't get down on ourselves but we have to understand that we made some mistakes," said Monarchs defensive line coach Julio Gramajo after the game. "We lost a tough one but we have to go back to work. There's a learning opportunity on each play. We're a young team and we'll keep improving."
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